Todays data centers are increasingly filled with dense rack-mount & blade servers that host powerful multicore processors. The rapid increase in in-rack computing density & the increasing use of virtualization software combine to accelerate the demand for 10 Gigabit Ethernet & consolidated I/O: applications for which the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches are an excellent match. With low latency, front-to-back cooling, & rear-facing data ports, the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series is designed for a broad range of physical, virtual, storage access, & high-performance computing environments, thus giving customers the flexibility to meet & scale their data center requirements in a gradual manner & at a pace that aligns with their business objectives. The switch series, using cut-through architecture, supports line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet on all ports while maintaining consistently low latency independent of packet size & services enabled. It supports a set of network technologies known collectively as Data Center Bridging (DCB) that increases the reliability, efficiency, & scalability of Ethernet networks. These features allow the switches to support multiple traffic classes over a lossless Ethernet fabric, thus enabling consolidation of LAN, SAN, & cluster environments. Its ability to connect Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCo E) to native Fiber Channel protects existing storage system investments while dramatically simplifying in-rack cabling. In addition to supporting standard 10 Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) on servers, the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series integrates with multifunction adapters called converged network adapters (CNAs) that combine the functions of Ethernet NICs & Fiber Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), making the transition to a single, unified network fabric transparent & consistent with existing practices, management software, & OS drivers. The switch series is compatible with integrated transceivers & Twinax cabling solutions that deliver cost-effective connectivity for 10 Gigabit Ethernet to servers at the rack level, eliminating the need for expensive optical transceivers. The Cisco Nexus 5000 series is designed for data center environments with cut-through technology that enables consistent low-latency Ethernet solutions, with front-to-back cooling, & with data ports in the rear, bringing switching into close proximity with servers & making cable runs short & simple. The switch series is highly serviceable, with redundant, hot-pluggable power supplies & fan modules. It uses data center-class Cisco NX-OS Software for high reliability & ease of management. The Cisco Nexus 5548UP is a 1RU 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Fiber Channel, & FCo E switch offering up to 960 GBps of throughput & up to 48 ports. The switch has 32 unified ports & one expansion slot.